Pope John Paul II

News about Pope John Paul II, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

Chronology of Coverage

May. 4, 2014

Serge Schmemann Quick History column reflects on events of the week, including canonization of John XXIII and John Paul II, botched execution by Oklahoma of Clayton Lockett and effort by Ukraine to retake rebel-controlled city of Slovyansk. MORE

Apr. 28, 2014

Pope Francis elevates John XXIII and John Paul II, two of his papal predecessors, to sainthood in a ceremony bearing themes of hope and reconciliation for world's one billion Roman Catholics; never before had two popes been canonized at the same time, and pairing attracts large, joyous crowds to Vatican City. MORE

Apr. 28, 2014

Many New York City Catholics say watching the canonizations of Popes John Paul II and John XXIII made them look back on their lives and the historical milestones associated with the church’s two newest saints. MORE

Apr. 27, 2014

Pope Francis will preside over first-of-its-kind joint canonization of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II, both iconic figures in 20th-century Roman Catholic Church; canonization is Francis's most public attempt to sew together the two men's different legacies as he pushes his own vision of a church under a big tent. MORE

Apr. 27, 2014

Ross Douthat Op-Ed column holds that the double canonization of liberal John XXIII and more conservative John Paul II symbolizes delicate synthesis that Francis has striven toward during his first year as pope; notes that Francis faces significant challenges and perils as expectations rise for doctrinal changes on subjects like divorce and communion. MORE

Apr. 23, 2014

Maureen Dowd Op-Ed column questions the canonization of Pope John Paul II; notes that John Paul presided over the Roman Catholic Church during nearly three decades of a gruesome pedophilia scandal and grotesque cover-up; contends John Paul was not a saint. MORE

Apr. 19, 2014

Alexis Soloski reviews Storm Theater and Blackfriars Repertory Theater production of play Our God's Brother, written by Pope John Paul II and translated by Boleslaw Taborksi, at Theater of the Church of Notre Dame; Peter Dobbins directs and Jed Peterson stars. MORE

Feb. 5, 2014

Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, who was secretary to John Paul II, has drawn criticism for defying pope’s order in his will to destroy his notes, instead publishing them as a book entitled I Am Very Much in God's Hands. MORE

Oct. 1, 2013

Pope Francis says that he will canonize John Paul II and John XXIII, two of his most influential predecessors, on the same day next spring, highly unusual move that was taken as an effort to promote unity within the Roman Catholic Church. MORE

Jul. 6, 2013

Pope Francis approves sainthood for two predecessors--John Paul II, who guided the Roman Catholic Church during the end of the cold war, and John XXIII, who assembled the liberalizing Second Vatican Council in the 1960s--and also issues his first encyclical, co-written with Benedict XVI. MORE

Jun. 20, 2013

Vatican insider says commission of theologians approved miracle attributed to Pope John Paul II's intercession, moving him one step closer to sainthood. MORE

Mar. 8, 2013

Memo from Rome; cardinals who elect next pontiff of Roman Catholic Church appear to be looking for someone who combines charisma of Pope John Paul II with grit to tackle disarray and scandal in Vatican; focus on communication and good governance is in many ways acknowledgement of deficiencies of Pope Benedict XVI. MORE

Aug. 29, 2012

Vial containing the blood of Pope John Paul II is stolen from a priest aboard a train in Italy, but is recovered by authorities several hours later. MORE

{"type":"article","show_header_text":false,"header":"ARTICLES ABOUT POPE JOHN PAUL II","query":"(per = \"JOHN PAUL II\") and tom!=\"Caption\" and tom!=\"Correction\" and tom!=\"Letter\" and tom!=\"List\"","search_query":"(persons:\"JOHN PAUL II\") AND -type_of_material:\"Caption\" AND -type_of_material:\"Correction\" AND -type_of_material:\"Letter\" AND -type_of_material:\"List\"","num_search_articles":"20","show_summary":true,"show_byline":true,"show_pub_date":true,"hide_thumbnails":false,"show_kicker":false,"show_title":false,"show_related_topics":true,"show_rad_links":true,"show_subtopics":true,"exclude_topics":"JOHN PAUL II;POPES","more_on_header":"MORE ON POPE JOHN PAUL II AND:","alternate_index_subidx":"","show_thumbnails":true}

Multimedia

It's 1988, and Melo, an Uruguayan town on the Brazilian border, awaits the visit of Pope John Paul II. 50,000 people are expected to attend, and the most humble locals believe that selling food and drink to the multitude will just about make them ri